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Resourcefulness of small children

(12 Posts)
Greyduster Thu 17-Nov-16 08:52:48

I shouldn't think this thread will develop into anything, and I only really want to comment. Much has been made, and quite rightly, of the small girl who saved her mum's life by dialling 999 when her mother went into anaphylactic shock. I know there have been other cases where very small children have alerted emergency services when adults have become ill. I was standing in a queue at the hospital pharmacy yesterday behind an African lady with a child who could not have been more than four years old. She got to the front of the queue and it became obvious that she couldn't speak any English, and that the child was her interpreter. He was completely unphased as he listened to all the pharmacist's questions and relayed them to his mother - "is she taking any other medication” (medication???), "does she pay for her medicines?" "Is she allergic to anything". Without him they would not have been able to communicate with her, and I wondered whether whatever treatment she had been at the hospital for he had had to interpret for her there as well! He was a dear little chap and obviously wise beyond his years, but what a burden. I'm sure at that age, my GS would have been bored to distraction at just having to stand in a long queue, never mind deal with difficult words like allergic and medication!

Mumsy Thu 17-Nov-16 09:12:59

Burden is a harsh word to use! If he has been brought up being his mothers interpreter he knows know different.

Jane10 Thu 17-Nov-16 09:17:12

What a dear wee boy he sounds! I'm sure his Mum appreciates him.

Greyduster Thu 17-Nov-16 09:25:56

Perhaps burden was the wrong word, but I thought it was a weight of responsibility for a small child. Others will no doubt think differently.

gillybob Thu 17-Nov-16 09:43:46

I agree Greyduster a huge responsibility for a young child. He will not always be around to "talk" for her.

harrigran Thu 17-Nov-16 09:46:00

No, I think you are right Greyduster, burden is the correct word. No child, of that age, should have to look out for their parent.

Cherrytree59 Thu 17-Nov-16 09:52:07

Children are amazing.

My father was profoundly deaf and I was from a very young age his interpreter
My earliest memoury is when president Kennedy was shot (my mum was at work).
My DF woke me up and took me through to watch the b/w TV.
My father knew somthing important had happened but couldn't understand what was being reported
He asked what was happening.

I said 'he's been shot !' and went back to sleep
I was about three at the time.

Jalima Thu 17-Nov-16 10:19:23

One of my friends used to interpret for her mother who was German and was learning to speak English slowly. In fact, she interpreted a lot between both parents when she was very young because her English father spoke little German and her mother spoke no English when she first came to live in the UK.

However, they must have spoken the language of love because they married and had her!

Jalima Thu 17-Nov-16 10:23:16

I do hope the lady in the OP is having help to learn English.

It's surprising what some quite young children have to do as carers for their parents. Watching Children in Need gives an insight into their lives and CinN does help to give them a break.

Nelliemoser Thu 17-Nov-16 10:52:27

It is a lot to ask of a child but children probably learn languages very well at the sort of age when the brain is still primed with the skills.

Granarchist Thu 17-Nov-16 14:13:49

many many children have to do things like this and much worse. My adopted daughter nursed her mother thru terminal cancer with no outside help. Aged 10 she was dressing her, putting on a bedpan in the middle of the night (actually a baking tray as they had no actual bedpan) - cooking not only for the two of them but for bed and breakfast guests at weekends. It was dreadful - it took ages for us all to realise what was going on. The mother was so independent and refused to divulge the truth until it really was approaching the end. Some very young children have huge responsibilities. Bless them.

ninathenana Thu 17-Nov-16 15:05:09

D's friend and her child are one of those used in the campaign video. She saved her mum by calling 999.
Child carers, and there are far more than people realise are truly wonderful. Working in a school I heard several similar stories to Granachists post.